JP2010001761A - Fuel feeder - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a fuel feeder capable of preventing foreign matters from being sucked into the vapor discharge hole of a fuel pump when a fuel filter is clogged when an internal combustion engine is operated. <P>SOLUTION: This fuel feeder 10 comprises the fuel pump 14 which is disposed in a fuel tank 52 and which sucks, boosts, and feeds the fuel to the fuel tank 52 and the fuel filter 22 for filtrating the fuel sucked into the fuel pump 14. The fuel pump 14 comprises the vapor discharge hole 33 for discharging the fuel including vapor while the fuel pump 14 is boosted. The fuel feeder further comprises a fuel chamber 60 for accumulating the fuel discharged from the vapor discharge hole 33 of the fuel pump 14 and a discharge passage 62 through which the fuel in the fuel chamber 60 can be discharged to the outside. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a fuel supply apparatus including a fuel pump that supplies fuel in a fuel tank to an internal combustion engine (engine).

  As a conventional fuel supply device, for example, there is one described in Patent Document 1 previously proposed by the same applicant. A fuel supply device disclosed in Patent Document 1 includes a fuel pump that is disposed in a fuel tank, sucks fuel in the fuel tank, boosts the fuel, and supplies the fuel to an internal combustion engine, and a fuel filter that filters the fuel sucked into the fuel pump And.

  The fuel supply device generally has a vapor discharge hole (also referred to as a vapor discharge port, a vapor jet, or the like) that discharges fuel including vapor in the course of pressure increase in order to increase the supply capability at high temperatures. A fuel pump (see, for example, Patent Document 2) is used.

JP 2008-82263 A JP 60-79193 A

In the fuel supply device, if the amount of foreign matter in the fuel in the fuel tank increases, the fuel filter may be clogged in the operating state of the internal combustion engine. Then, a phenomenon occurs in which the fuel in the fuel tank is sucked into the fuel pump through the vapor discharge hole that should originally discharge the fuel containing the vapor. At this time, since a filter or the like is generally not provided in the vapor discharge hole, there is a problem that foreign matters in the fuel in the fuel tank are sucked into the fuel pump from the vapor discharge hole. If foreign matter is sucked into the fuel pump, it causes a malfunction of the fuel pump and equipment (for example, an injector, a pressure regulator, etc.) provided on the downstream side of the fuel pump.
The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a fuel supply device capable of preventing the intake of foreign matter from the vapor discharge hole of the fuel pump when the fuel filter is clogged in the operating state of the internal combustion engine. It is in.

The above-mentioned problem can be solved by a fuel supply device having a configuration described in the appended claims.
That is, according to the fuel supply device described in claim 1 of the claims, in the normal operation state of the internal combustion engine, the fuel pump sucks and boosts the fuel in the fuel tank through the fuel filter. Supply to internal combustion engine. In addition, the fuel containing vapor is discharged and stored in the fuel chamber from the vapor discharge hole of the fuel pump during the pressure increase. Here, clean fuel filtered by the fuel filter at the time of suction by the fuel pump is stored in the fuel chamber. Further, the excess fuel in the fuel chamber is discharged outside the chamber, that is, into the fuel tank through the discharge passage.
By the way, when the fuel filter is clogged in the operating state of the internal combustion engine, the fuel in the fuel chamber is sucked into the fuel pump from the vapor discharge hole. However, clean fuel filtered by the fuel filter is stored in the fuel chamber. For this reason, it is possible to prevent or reduce the intake of foreign matter from the vapor discharge hole of the fuel pump when the fuel filter is clogged in the operating state of the internal combustion engine.

According to the fuel supply device described in claim 2 of the claims, as the fuel in the fuel chamber is sucked into the fuel pump from the vapor discharge hole, the fuel in the fuel tank outside the fuel chamber passes through the discharge passage. Through the room. At this time, foreign matter contained in the fuel introduced into the fuel chamber is captured in the minute gap in the discharge passage, so that entry of foreign matter from the discharge passage into the fuel chamber can be prevented or reduced. As a result, inhalation of foreign matter from the vapor discharge hole of the fuel pump can be prevented or reduced. Further, when the minute gap is clogged with foreign matter, the fuel is insufficiently supplied to the internal combustion engine, so that the driver can easily detect the abnormality.
Further, if the fuel filter is replaced, the foreign matter trapped in the minute gap as described above when excess fuel in the fuel chamber is discharged to the outside through the discharge passage in the operating state of the internal combustion engine. Is discharged outside the fuel chamber. For this reason, the function can be easily restored only by exchanging the fuel filter without requiring any special work to remove the foreign matter trapped in the minute gap.

  According to the fuel supply device described in claim 3, the plate member that closes the opening formed in the bottom of the fuel tank, the support member that supports the fuel pump on the plate member, and the fuel pump are connected. The fuel chamber is configured using at least one member of the piping members to be formed. Thereby, a fuel supply apparatus can be reduced in size.

  Further, according to the fuel supply device described in claim 4 of the claims, the outlet of the discharge passage is opened upward in the gravity direction. For this reason, the vapor stagnated in the fuel chamber when the internal combustion engine is stopped or the like can flow out of the fuel chamber from the outlet of the discharge passage using the buoyancy.

  Moreover, according to the fuel supply device described in claim 5, the discharge passage is formed along the pump housing of the fuel pump. For this reason, the discharge passage can be easily formed by using the pump housing.

  Further, according to the fuel supply device described in claim 6 of the claims, the shielding portion that covers the upper part of the outlet of the discharge passage is provided. For this reason, when the internal combustion engine is stopped, for example, the foreign matter that settles in the fuel outside the fuel chamber in the fuel tank is avoided by the shielding portion, so that the foreign matter can be prevented or reduced from entering the discharge passage.

  Further, according to the fuel supply device described in claim 7 of the claims, the short-circuit prevention means for preventing the vapor discharged from the outlet of the discharge passage from flowing in a short circuit to the fuel filter is provided. For this reason, it is possible to prevent the vapor discharged from the discharge passage from flowing to the fuel filter in a short circuit by the short circuit preventing means. As the short-circuit prevention structure, for example, the outlet of the discharge passage and the fuel suction surface of the fuel filter are arranged in a non-opposing relationship, or a shielding member is provided on the short-circuit path between the discharge passage and the fuel filter. Conceivable.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[Example 1]
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described. 1 is a right side sectional view showing the fuel supply device, FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line II-II in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line III-III in FIG. For convenience of explanation, the outline of the fuel supply device will be described, and then the configuration of the main part will be described.
As shown in FIG. 1, the fuel supply apparatus 10 includes a set plate 12, a fuel pump 14, a connecting pipe member 16, a casing 18, a pressure regulator 20, a fuel filter 22, and the like. Hereinafter, it demonstrates in order.

The set plate 12 will be described. FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the set plate.
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the set plate 12 is made of resin, and includes a disc-shaped plate body 24 and a fitting cylinder portion 25 formed in a cylindrical shape near the outer peripheral portion of the upper surface of the plate body 24. And have. The plate body 24 is provided with a fuel discharge port 26, an electrical connector 27, and the like. A cylindrical pump fitting portion 28 is formed concentrically at the center of the upper surface of the plate body 24. Further, a U-shaped cylindrical pedestal portion 29 is formed on the upper surface of the plate main body 24 and is located at the rear portion (upper portion in FIG. 4) in the pump fitting portion 28. The opening of the pedestal 29 is directed forward (downward in FIG. 4). Further, a U-shaped groove-shaped recess 28a opening upward is formed on the front side (lower side in FIG. 4) of the pump fitting portion 28 (see FIG. 2). The set plate 12 corresponds to a “plate member” in the present specification.

  Next, the fuel pump 14 will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the fuel pump 14 is an in-tank Wesco type electric pump in which an electric motor unit and an impeller type pump are integrated integrally in a vertical cylindrical pump housing 31. In addition, a fuel suction port 32 is formed at the lower end surface of the pump housing 31 and a vapor discharge hole 33 for discharging vapor contained in the fuel in the middle of pressure increase is formed (see FIG. 3). As shown in FIG. 1, a fuel discharge port 34 is formed on the upper end surface of the pump housing 31, and an electrical connector (not shown) is provided. Since other configurations are the same as those described in Patent Document 2, the description thereof is omitted. In FIG. 1, the fuel pump 14 is schematically shown.

  Next, the connecting pipe member 16 will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the connecting pipe member 16 is made of resin and is formed mainly of a laterally-oriented tubular portion 16a. A pump connection port 35 that opens to the upper surface is formed at one end (rear end) of the tubular portion 16a, and a filter connection port 36 that opens to the front surface is formed at the other end (front end). The connecting pipe member 16 is attached to the lower surface of the pump housing 31 of the fuel pump 14 in a positioned state from below. At this time, the pump connection port 35 of the connection pipe member 16 is connected to the fuel suction port 32 of the fuel pump 14 by press fitting or the like. In addition, the filter connection port 36 is directed forward (rightward in FIG. 1). The connecting pipe member 16 corresponds to a “piping member” in this specification.

  A lower portion of the fuel pump 14 (specifically, the pump housing 31) to which the connecting pipe member 16 is attached is press-fitted into the pump fitting portion 28 of the set plate 12 and placed on the pedestal portion 29. , And stands vertically on the set plate 12 (see FIG. 1). At the same time, the lower half of the tubular portion 16a of the connecting pipe member 16 is fitted into the recess 28a of the pump fitting portion 28 of the set plate 12 (see FIG. 2). Further, the vapor discharge hole 33 of the fuel pump 14 is opened in the pump fitting portion 28 (see FIG. 3).

  Next, the casing 18 will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the casing 18 is made of resin, and is formed integrally with the vertical cylindrical pump support portion 37, a pipe portion 38 integrally formed at the upper end portion of the pump support portion 37, and the pipe portion 38. And a pressure regulator accommodating portion 39. The pump support portion 37 is formed so as to be able to be fitted onto the fuel pump 14. On the front side of the lower end portion of the pump support portion 37, an arc-shaped concave portion 37a that opens downward is formed (see FIG. 2).

  The pipe portion 38 is formed in an elbow shape having one end opened in the pressure regulator housing 39 and the other end opened downward. The pipe portion 38 is formed with a pump connection port 40 that branches downward. The pump connection port 40 is formed to be connectable to the fuel discharge port 34 of the fuel pump 14. Further, the pressure regulator accommodating portion 39 is formed so as to accommodate a pressure regulator 20 (described later).

  The casing 18 is attached to the pump fitting portion 28 of the set plate 12 by a snap fit or the like in a state where a pump support portion 37 is externally fitted to the fuel pump 14 erected on the set plate 12. At this time, the concave portion 37 a of the pump support portion 37 is fitted to the upper half portion of the horizontal tubular portion 16 a of the connecting pipe member 16. At the same time, the pump connection port 40 of the pipe section 38 is connected to the fuel discharge port 34 of the fuel pump 14. The fuel pump 14 is supported on the set plate 12 by the pump support portion 37 of the casing 18. The casing 18 corresponds to a “support member” in the present specification.

  As shown in FIG. 2, on the upper side of the set plate 12, the fuel discharge port 26 and the downward end of the piping part 38 are connected via a communication pipe 43. In addition, on the upper side of the set plate 12, the electrical connector 27 and an electrical connector (not shown) of the fuel pump 14 are electrically connected via a conducting wire 44.

  Next, the pressure regulator 20 will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, the pressure regulator 20 is accommodated in a pressure regulator accommodating portion 39 of the casing 18. The pressure regulator accommodating portion 39 is provided with a lid member 46 that prevents the pressure regulator 20 from coming off. Further, the pressure regulator 20 adjusts the pressure of the fuel discharged from the fuel discharge port 34 of the fuel pump 14 to the predetermined pressure in the pipe portion 38, and surplus fuel generated by the pressure is discharged outside the pipe portion 38, that is, the fuel tank. It discharges in 52 (it mentions later).

  Next, the fuel filter 22 will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the fuel filter 22 includes a flat bag-shaped filter medium 48 made of nonwoven fabric, filter paper, mesh material, and the like, and a resin-made grid that is provided in the filter medium 48 and holds the filter medium 48 in an enormous state. Frame member 49, and a resin connection port member 50 coupled to the frame member 49 and opened on one side surface of the lower part of the filter member 48. The connection port member 50 is detachably connected to the filter connection port 36 of the connection pipe member 16 by press fitting or the like. Thereby, the fuel filter 22 is provided to the connecting pipe member 16 in a replaceable manner. In this state, the frame member 49 is supported vertically, and the filter medium 48 is held vertically in a state of facing the front-rear direction (left-right direction in FIG. 1). The outer surface (front surface and rear surface) of the filter medium 48 is a fuel suction surface.

  Further, in the bottom of the fuel tank 52 in a vehicle such as a motorcycle or an automobile, that is, the bottom wall 53, an opening 54 formed of a circular opening hole into which the fitting cylinder portion 25 of the set plate 12 can be fitted is formed. (See FIG. 1).

  As shown in FIG. 1, the fuel supply device 10 inserts the components on the set plate 12 into the tank through the opening 54 of the fuel tank 52, and the fitting cylinder portion of the set plate 12 into the opening 54. In the state where 25 is fitted, the outer peripheral portion of the plate body 24 is detachably attached to the fuel tank 52 by fastening the outer peripheral portion of the plate body 24 to the bottom wall 53 with a bolt or the like (not shown). As a result, the opening 54 of the fuel tank 52 is closed by the set plate 12. An annular gasket 56 is interposed between the outer periphery of the plate body 24 and the hole edge of the opening 54 of the bottom wall 53.

  Although not shown, an external connector for supplying power from the external power source to the fuel pump 14 is connected to the electrical connector 27 on the lower surface side of the set plate 12. The fuel discharge port 26 is connected to an injector of the internal combustion engine via a fuel supply pipe.

  Next, the operation of the fuel supply device 10 will be described. The power of the external power source is supplied to the fuel pump 14 via an external connector (not shown), the electrical connector 27, and the conductive wire 44, whereby the fuel pump 14 is driven. Then, the fuel in the fuel tank 52 is sucked into the filter medium 48 of the fuel filter 22. At this time, the fuel is filtered by the filter medium 48. In other words, foreign matters contained in the fuel are captured on the outer surface of the filter medium 48, and clean fuel is sucked into the filter medium 48. The fuel sucked into the filter medium 48 is sucked into the fuel pump 14 from the fuel suction port 32 through the connecting pipe member 16.

  The fuel sucked into the fuel pump 14 is boosted in the pump and then discharged into the piping portion 38 of the casing 18. The fuel discharged into the piping part 38 is supplied to the fuel discharge port 26 through the communication pipe 43. The fuel is supplied to the injector of the internal combustion engine from a fuel discharge port 26 through a fuel supply pipe (not shown). Further, the pressure of the fuel in the pipe portion 38 is adjusted to a predetermined pressure by the pressure regulator 20. At this time, the pressure regulator 20 discharges excess fuel into the fuel tank 52.

  Next, the structure of the main part of the fuel supply device 10 will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the fuel pump 14 to which the connecting pipe member 16 is attached is erected vertically on the set plate 12, and the casing 18 is attached to the set plate 12. Thereby, between the opposing surfaces of the pump housing 31 and the plate body 24 of the fuel pump 14, the pump housing 31, the set plate 12 (specifically, the pump fitting portion 28), the casing 18 (specifically, the pump support portion 37) and the connection. A sealed fuel chamber 60 is formed by the pipe member 16 (see FIG. 3). The fuel chamber 60 communicates with the vapor discharge hole 33 of the fuel pump 14 and can store the fuel discharged from the vapor discharge hole 33.

  As shown in FIG. 3, an annular discharge passage 62 is formed between the inner peripheral surface of the pump fitting portion 28 and the outer peripheral surface of the pump housing 31. The discharge passage 62 has an upper end opened upward in the gravity direction and an upper end opened downward in the gravity direction. Further, since the discharge passage 62 communicates with the fuel chamber 60, it is formed from the lower side to the upper side in the direction of gravity from the inlet toward the outlet (see FIG. 1).

  The discharge passage 62 is formed along the pump housing 31 of the fuel pump 14. Further, the discharge passage 62 can discharge excess fuel from the fuel chamber 60. Further, the radial gap 62C of the discharge passage 62 is set to a minute gap 62C (the same reference numeral is attached). The minute gap 62 </ b> C can discharge all or most of the vapor contained in the fuel stored in the fuel chamber 60 to the outside, and includes foreign matter contained in the fuel outside the fuel chamber 60. The gap is set to prevent all or most of the foreign matter from entering the room. Further, as described above, the outlet of the discharge passage 62 is opened upward in the direction of gravity, and the fuel suction surface of the fuel filter 22 (particularly, the rear surface of the filter medium 48 (reference numeral 48a)). Faces rearward (see FIG. 1). Therefore, the outlet of the discharge passage 62 and the fuel flow suction surface of the fuel filter 22 (the rear surface 48a of the filter medium 48) are in a non-opposing relationship.

  According to the fuel supply device 10 described above, in the normal operation state of the internal combustion engine, the fuel pump 14 sucks the fuel in the fuel tank 52 through the fuel filter 22 and boosts it to supply it to the internal combustion engine. Further, the fuel containing vapor is discharged from the vapor discharge hole 33 of the fuel pump 14 into the fuel chamber 60 and stored in the middle of the pressure increase. Here, clean fuel filtered by the fuel filter 22 during intake by the fuel pump 14 is stored in the fuel chamber 60. Further, the excess fuel in the fuel chamber 60 is discharged outside the chamber, that is, into the fuel tank 52 through the discharge passage 62.

  By the way, when the fuel filter 22 is clogged in the operating state of the internal combustion engine, the fuel in the fuel chamber 60 is sucked into the fuel pump 14 from the vapor discharge hole 33. However, clean fuel filtered by the fuel filter 22 is stored in the fuel chamber 60. For this reason, inhalation of foreign matter from the vapor discharge hole 33 of the fuel pump 14 when the fuel filter 22 is clogged in the operating state of the internal combustion engine can be prevented or reduced.

  Further, as the fuel in the fuel chamber 60 is drawn into the fuel pump 14 from the vapor discharge hole 33, the fuel in the fuel tank 52 is introduced into the chamber through the discharge passage 62 outside the fuel chamber 60. At this time, foreign matter contained in the fuel introduced into the fuel chamber 60 is captured by the minute gap 62C of the discharge passage 62, thereby preventing or reducing entry of foreign matter from the discharge passage 62 into the fuel chamber 60. be able to. As a result, inhalation of foreign matter from the vapor discharge hole 33 of the fuel pump 14 can be prevented or reduced. Further, when the minute gap 62C is clogged with foreign matter, the fuel is insufficiently supplied to the internal combustion engine, so that the driver can easily detect an abnormality.

  In addition, if the fuel filter 22 is replaced, excess fuel in the fuel chamber 60 is trapped in the minute gap 62C when it is discharged to the outside through the discharge passage 62 in the operating state of the internal combustion engine. Foreign matter is discharged out of the fuel chamber 60. For this reason, the function can be easily restored only by replacing the fuel filter 22 without requiring any special work to remove the foreign matter trapped in the minute gap 62C.

  Also, a set plate 12 that closes the opening formed in the bottom of the fuel tank 52, a casing 18 that supports the fuel pump 14 on the set plate 12, and a connecting pipe member 16 that is connected to the fuel pump 14 are used in total. A fuel chamber 60 is configured. Thereby, the fuel supply apparatus 10 can be made compact.

  The outlet of the discharge passage 62 is opened upward in the gravity direction. For this reason, the vapor stagnated in the fuel chamber 60 when the internal combustion engine is stopped or the like can flow out of the fuel chamber 60 from the outlet of the discharge passage 62 using the buoyancy.

  A discharge passage 62 is formed along the pump housing 31 of the fuel pump 14. For this reason, the discharge passage 62 can be easily formed by using the pump housing 31.

  Further, the outlet of the discharge passage 62 and the fuel suction surface of the fuel filter 22 (the rear surface 48a of the filter medium 48) are arranged in a non-opposing relationship. For this reason, it is possible to prevent the vapor discharged from the discharge passage 62 from flowing to the fuel filter 22 in a short circuit. The outlet of the discharge passage 62 and the fuel suction surface of the fuel filter 22 (the rear surface 48a of the filter medium 48) are arranged in a non-opposing relationship to constitute “short-circuit prevention means” in this specification.

[Example 2]
A second embodiment of the present invention will be described. Since the present embodiment is obtained by changing a part of the first embodiment, the changed portion will be described, and redundant description will be omitted. 5 is a right side sectional view showing the fuel supply device 10, FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line VI-VI in FIG. 5, and FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line VII-VII in FIG.
As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, in the present embodiment, a vertically rectangular plate-like lid plate portion 64 extending in the vertical direction is provided on the tubular portion 16 a of the connecting tube member 16 in the first embodiment.

On the front side of the pump fitting portion 28 of the set plate 12, a rectangular groove-shaped recess 66 that opens upward is formed by cutting a lower portion including the recess 28 a (see FIG. 2) in the first embodiment. (See FIG. 6). The concave portion 66 is formed so as to be closed by the lower half portion of the lid plate portion 64.
Further, on the front side of the lower end portion of the pump support portion 37 of the casing 18, a rectangular groove-shaped recess 68 that opens downward by cutting an upper portion including the recess 37 a (see FIG. 2) in the first embodiment. Is formed (see FIG. 6). The recess 68 is formed so as to be able to fit into the upper half of the lid plate portion 64.

With the connecting pipe member 16 mounted on the fuel pump 14, the fuel pump 14 is erected on the set plate 12, so that the lower half of the cover plate portion 64 of the connecting pipe member 16 is a pump fitting portion. The recess 66 is closed on the front side of 28 (lower side in FIG. 7).
Further, by attaching the casing 18 to the pump fitting portion 28 of the set plate 12 by snap fitting, the concave portion 68 of the pump support portion 37 is fitted to the upper half portion of the cover plate portion 64 of the connecting pipe member 16. For this reason, the recessed part 68 of the pump support part 37 is closed by the upper half part of the cover plate part 64.

  According to the present embodiment, the pump housing 31, the set plate 12 (specifically, the pump fitting portion 28), and the casing 18 (specifically, the pump support portion 37) are disposed between the opposing surfaces of the fuel pump 14 between the pump housing 31 and the plate body 24. ) And the connecting pipe member 16 (specifically, the tubular portion 16a and the cover plate portion 64) form a sealed fuel chamber 60.

[Example 3]
A third embodiment of the present invention will be described. 8 is a right side sectional view showing the fuel supply device, FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along line IX-IX in FIG. 8, and FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along line XX in FIG.
As shown in FIGS. 8 and 10, in this embodiment, the passage enlargement that enlarges the passage sectional area of the discharge passage 62 on the rear side of the inner peripheral surface of the pump fitting portion 28 in the set plate 12 of the first embodiment. A portion 70 is formed. The passage expanding portion 70 is formed in a groove shape extending in the vertical direction. Further, with the formation of the passage expanding portion 70, an inverted U-shaped notch recess 71 is formed on the rear side of the lower end portion of the pump support portion 37 of the casing 18 so as to straddle the passage expanding portion 70 of the pump fitting portion 28. ing.

  Further, when the passage enlargement portion 70 is formed in the discharge passage 62, foreign matter that settles in the fuel in the fuel tank 52 when the internal combustion engine is stopped or the like easily enters the passage enlargement portion 70 of the discharge passage 62. It is predicted. Therefore, a shielding portion 72 is provided that protrudes like a bowl from the upper edge portion of the notch recess 71 in the pump support portion 37 of the casing 18 to the rear (left side in FIG. 8). The shielding part 72 covers the upper part of the outlet of the passage expanding part 70 of the discharge passage 62.

  According to the present embodiment, when the amount of vapor discharged from the vapor discharge hole 33 of the fuel pump 14 is large and the vapor tends to stay in the fuel chamber 60 at a high temperature or the like, the fuel chamber 60 tends to stay in the fuel chamber 60. The vapor to be discharged can be quickly discharged from the passage expanding portion 70 of the discharge passage 62.

  Further, a shielding portion 72 is provided on the pump support portion 37 of the casing 18 so as to cover the upper side of the outlet of the passage expanding portion 70 of the discharge passage 62. For this reason, when the internal combustion engine is stopped or the like, the foreign matter that settles in the fuel outside the fuel chamber 60 in the fuel tank 52 is avoided by the shielding portion 72, so that the foreign matter enters the passage expanding portion 70 of the discharge passage 62. This can be prevented or reduced.

[Example 4]
Embodiment 4 of the present invention will be described. FIG. 11 is a right sectional view showing the fuel supply device.
As shown in FIG. 11, in this embodiment, a partition plate portion 74 that covers the lower half of the rear side surface of the filter medium 48 of the fuel filter 22 is provided in the filter connection port 36 of the connection pipe member 16 in the first embodiment. Is.
According to the present embodiment, the partition plate 74 can prevent the vapor discharged from the discharge passage 62 from flowing into the fuel filter 22 in a short-circuit manner. The partition plate portion 74 constitutes “short-circuit prevention means” in this specification.

[Example of change]
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. For example, in the above embodiment, the radial gap 62C in the radial direction of the discharge passage 62 is set over the entire length in the axial direction (vertical direction) of the discharge passage 62. It is also possible to partially set the minute gap 62C in a part of the circumferential direction. Further, the minute gap 62C of the discharge passage 62 is set as necessary and can be omitted. Moreover, in the said Example, although the fuel chamber 60 was comprised using the set plate 12, the casing 18, and the connection pipe member 16 in total, the fuel chamber 60 was comprised using at least 1 member of the three members. You can also Moreover, in the said Example, although the exit of the discharge passage 62 was opened toward the gravity direction upper direction, the exit of the discharge passage 62 can also be opened toward directions other than the gravity direction upper direction. In the above embodiment, the discharge passage 62 is formed along the pump housing 31 of the fuel pump 14. However, the discharge passage 62 may be formed without being along the pump housing 31 of the fuel pump 14. Further, the shielding portion 72 is not limited to the casing 18, and can be provided on other members, for example, the set plate 12. Further, the partition plate portion 74 is not limited to the connecting pipe member 16, and can be provided on other members, for example, the set plate 12 and the casing 18.

1 is a right side sectional view showing a fuel supply apparatus according to Embodiment 1. FIG. It is the II-II sectional view taken on the line of FIG. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG. 2. It is a top view which shows a set plate. FIG. 6 is a right side sectional view showing a fuel supply apparatus according to a second embodiment. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI in FIG. 5. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VII-VII in FIG. 6. FIG. 6 is a right side sectional view showing a fuel supply device according to Example 3; FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IX-IX in FIG. 8. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line X-X in FIG. 9. FIG. 6 is a right side sectional view showing a fuel supply device according to Example 4;

Explanation of symbols

10 Fuel supply device 12 Set plate (plate member)
14 Fuel pump 16 Connection pipe member (Piping member)
18 Casing (support member)
22 Fuel Filter 33 Vapor Discharge Hole 52 Fuel Tank 54 Opening 60 Fuel Chamber 62 Discharge Passage 62C Small Clearance 70 Passage Enlargement Portion 72 Shielding Portion

Claims (7)

A fuel pump disposed in the fuel tank and sucking and boosting the fuel in the fuel tank and supplying the fuel pump to the internal combustion engine;
A fuel filter for filtering fuel sucked into the fuel pump,
A fuel supply device having a vapor discharge hole for discharging the fuel including vapor in the middle of pressure increase of the fuel pump,
A fuel chamber is provided for storing fuel discharged from the vapor discharge hole of the fuel pump;
A fuel supply apparatus comprising a discharge passage through which fuel in the fuel chamber can be discharged to the outside. The fuel supply device according to claim 1,
The fuel supply device according to claim 1, wherein a minute gap is provided in the discharge passage to prevent foreign substances from entering the chamber from the outside of the fuel chamber. The fuel supply device according to claim 1 or 2,
The fuel chamber includes at least one member selected from a plate member that closes an opening formed in a bottom portion of the fuel tank, a support member that supports the fuel pump on the plate member, and a piping member connected to the fuel pump. A fuel supply device characterized by being configured to be used. The fuel supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The fuel supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an outlet of the discharge passage is opened upward in a gravitational direction. The fuel supply device according to claim 4,
The fuel supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the discharge passage is formed along a pump housing of the fuel pump. The fuel supply device according to claim 4 or 5,
A fuel supply device, wherein a shielding portion is provided to cover an upper portion of the outlet of the discharge passage. The fuel supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
A fuel supply device comprising: a short-circuit prevention means for preventing vapor discharged from the outlet of the discharge passage from flowing into the fuel filter in a short-circuit manner.

Images